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Updated: 16-Jun-2003 NATO Press Releases

Press
Release
(2003) 068

13 June 2003

Chairman’s Summary

of the Meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
in Defence Ministers Session

  1. Defence Ministers and Representatives of the member countries of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) met in Brussels today. Ministers discussed Partnership’s growing role in addressing the new security challenges. They also exchanged views on the process of building security and stability in Afghanistan.
  2. Ministers recalled the decisions taken at the Prague Summit of November 2002 to launch a set of measures to invigorate and adapt the Partnership. They agreed that implementation of the new mechanisms and reshaping of existing ones was well on track. They noted the progress made so far, particularly in relation to the Partnership Action Plan against Terrorism and Individual Partnership Action Plans.
  3. Ministers reiterated the commitment of Allies and Partners to unite against terrorism as expressed in the Partnership Action Plan against Terrorism and discussed the future role of Partnership in countering terrorism and other asymmetric threats. Ministers noted the interest shown by Partners in Individual Partnership Action Plans as a sign that Partnership is responding to the specific needs of individual Partners. Ministers also exchanged views on possibilities for broader use of Partnership for Peace Trust Funds and closer regional cooperation.
  4. Ministers discussed Partnership's role in current and possible future operations. They recalled that, based on the operational capabilities and mechanisms developed in the framework of PfP, Partners and Allies have worked extremely well together in operations in the Balkans. They underlined that this successful and efficient cooperation should continue.
  5. Ministers took stock of the situation in Afghanistan following NATO’s decision to enhance its support to the International Security Assistance Force. They discussed the way ahead in building security and stability in Afghanistan, and agreed that the contributions of Partners many of whom already participate in ISAF, would remain very important, as NATO takes on the leading role in this mission.
  6. Ministers considered a number of reports on the Partnership, including on the ongoing implementation of the Partnership decisions taken at Prague. They also received progress reports on the implementation of the Operational Capabilities Concept and the Political-Military Framework for NATO-led PfP Operations, as well as on the Training and Education Enhancement Programme. Allies and Partners participating in PARP approved the PARP Ministerial Guidance.
  7. Ministers welcomed progress of work to date and underlined the need to ensure full implementation of the upgraded Partnership launched at Prague. They stressed the need to continue to work vigorously to ensure that the Partnership is fully adapted to respond to the requirements of the evolving security environment.

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